Pass the Buck
Begin this activity by asking each participant to take a dollar bill out of his/her purse or wallet. (Suggest they raise their hand if they need financial assistance!) Then pass out a stack of play money and have the teachers pass it around while music is playing, similar to Musical Chairs…
Lesson Study Help teachers create lessons that help students learn.
Fundraising Q&A: Commonly Asked Questions
Do you have more questions than answers about current fundraising opportunities? Jenny Ann (her full name) has heard all the questions, and here she answers a few of the most common ones she gets from people responsible for raising money for school and community groups.
Of Principal Concern:
A Blog for School Leaders
Have you seen these recent blog entries?
Partners for
Student Success
Math ‘Flies Off the Shelf’
Parents in Virginia learn to capitalize on "teachable math moments" at home in the kitchen with hands-on items like cereal and soup labels. The experience of using common household goods “off the shelf” to explore math has had unexpected outcomes. Camp Out Lures Dads to Get Involved
The Dad's Club Camp Out is one of the most looked-forward-to events of the school year. This is not just another event; it's involvement for the entire family -- the entire community. The most wonderful part is that each year the event grows in size and scope.
From the Principal Files Setting Goals for the Year
Education World’s "Principal Files" principals share the goals they have set for the school year. (One restriction: Nobody was allowed to say "raise test scores" because that goal is a given.) The goals those principals shared are as varied as the schools they represent. Included: Goals related to curriculum, motivating teachers, involving parents…
Focus On… New Principals
Every principal is a "newbie" at some stage in his or her career. Our advice for making it through: take a deep breath, relax… and read tips from other principals who have "been there, done that." The advice and ideas in the articles in this archive will help you jump those first-year hurdles and survive -- no, thrive!
Pete Hall's Always Strive To Be a Better You Why I Wear Red Socks to School
The earliest known socks were discovered in Egyptian tombs. In subsequent years, socks have taken many turns on the paths of style and function. Principal Pete Hall’s socks, for instance, are red. Every day, red socks. So why does Hall wear red socks to school every day?
Education Humor with Gina Barreca Why We All Need to Appreciate the Gravity of Transitions
“When something terrifies you to the bottoms of your socks, it’s difficult to regard the experience as a privilege. One of the best kids I’ve ever met just recently started college and she’s scared. Duh, of course she’s scared: she’s been separated from everyone and every place she’s ever known…”
Diane Hodges’ Looking Forward to Monday Morning
A prolific author and a frequent presenter at education conferences, Diane Hodges offers ideas you can use to drive your staff happy! This week… Survival Kits
--- Survival Kit for Everyday Use
--- More Survival Kits
--- Quote This!
--- Grin and Share It!
Leah Davies, The Teacher Counselor Games for Elementary Classrooms
Many educators understand the value in spacing a variety of short movement activities throughout the day to help keep students’ attention. Quick games can be used to do the same thing. Included: Popular games to help develop focus, ease transitions between lessons.
Carlton Ashby's The Power Is In You Three Keys to Student Success: Relationships, Relationships, Relationships
Every day, I am reminded of how fortunate I am to teach at a school where teachers are committed to building relationships. All of us care deeply about building relationships with our students, their parents, our colleagues, and our community.
Mr. Ivan:
The Principal Poet
Education World’s resident poet, Mr. Ivan, presents a poem that is sure to bring grins to school leaders everywhere. This week’s poem is... “School Bus”
Education World’s resident poet, Mr. Ivan, presents a poem that is sure to bring grins to school leaders everywhere. This week’s poem is “School Bus.” The yellow bus holds children,
And I ride it every day.
In morning, it heads off to school.
At night it goes the other way… Read more…
Wire Side Chat Breaking the Homework Habit
The ideas that homework reinforces classroom lessons, helps children develop good work habits, and improves student achievement have no basis in fact, says Alfie Kohn. Homework should be assigned selectively rather than automatically, he says.
Last Week's Featured Article Technology Closes Distance Between Kids, Schools
In the not-so-distant past, students had pen pals in other states and countries to learn about life elsewhere. Now with the help of Skype and other technology, kids are able to chat and work on assignments with students from across the district or across the world.
Best Books for School Leaders
If You Don't Feed the Teachers, They Eat the Students
This book's best joke may be its title, but it's still very refreshing to have a humorous approach taken to the endless supply of practical tips that the art of teaching needs. In particular, this is one of the best books for teachers to give to administrators as "presents..." well, a gift that hopefully will keep on giving back to the teachers. Lots of great stuff in here that teachers can make happen, but it's really a book that can give administrators ideas to help the staff in many human ways in this most human of professions. Click to learn more or to purchase this book.
From the Education World MarketPlace
Be sure to visit our MarketlPlace. The Education World MarketPlace features products handpicked for educators.
This Week's Feature Stickers and Other Incentives
Stars, smiley faces, motivational stickers -- they're all here. Educators know the power of a simple sticker, and kids will be doubly proud to show off papers with these stickers from the Education World MarketPlace.
Fundraising Q&A: Commonly Asked Questions
Of Principal Concern:
Partners for 
From the Principal Files
Focus On…
Pete Hall's Always Strive To Be a Better You
Education Humor with Gina Barreca
Diane Hodges’ Looking Forward to Monday Morning
Leah Davies, The Teacher Counselor
Carlton Ashby's The Power Is In You
Mr. Ivan:
Be sure to visit our MarketlPlace. The Education World MarketPlace features products handpicked for educators.
